Book Club

[pateacher]

I finished the Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club.  I enjoyed the characters and did not anticipate some of the plot twists. Interesting commentary on college  women in the 1950's.

I am just beginning The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn, one of my most liked authors, and Janie Chang,

[nwbabs]

Finished Return to Valetto by Dominic Smith this evening. What a lovely reading trip to a nearly abandoned Italian village on a hilltop in Umbria. Generational history, literary fiction. Eduardo Ballerini narration is easy listening, as always.

Sidenote: Listening to this book led me to change an item on my evening menu from rice/quinoa to polenta. Oh, the power of a book...even on my dinner. LOL

Cheers!

[Lilysmom1]

Currently reading The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain.  Liking it so far, about 2/3rds through it.

Edited to add now finished.  I thought the ending was a bit lame but a good read overall.

[smoky22]

I read The Conjurer's Wife by Sarah Penner.  It's a short story that was free on Amazon Prime First Reads.  I enjoyed it and realized I've read more short stories this past year than ever before.  I usually don't care for them, but I have a new appreciation for the thought that goes into them for such a short work. 

I think this particular short story is kind of a tease for Sarah Penner's new book coming out in April, called The Amalfi Curse.  I'm looking forward to it.  I enjoyed one of her previous books, The Lost Apothecary.

[smoky22]

I've tried to read some of the books that were Goodreads Choice nominees, and the ones that became available to me turned out to be not my style. 

I gave up on The Book of Doors (fantasy), The Bullet Swallower (historical fiction) and Masquerade (best debut novel). 

That last one, Masquerade was probably the best. Set in a reimagined 15th century West Africa, it's about one woman's fight for freedom and self discovery.  I might have read that one but several other books became available that I wanted to read more.

Currently reading Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino, the most popular writer in Japan.  It's a police procedural just like the first book I read by this author, The Devotion of Suspect X.  I really enjoy the way these stories unfold.  It seems like an impossible crime and you know in the beginning who is the perpetrator, the problem is in determining how the crime was done.  

[nwbabs]

Thank you @smoky22 for posting about Keigo Higashino's books. His crime fiction works sound like something I would enjoy. Thankfully, my library has several of his audiobooks on Libby. Take care and thanks again. Cheers!

[SWEET]

Just finished The Girls of Summer by Nancy Thayer.  Another good author who writes about Nantucket.  This one was just so so and predictable.

[Lilysmom1]

@icezeus And readers, could you please participate in the My Favorite Books 2024 thread? I often get great reads from this list.  The more participants, the better!  TIA.

Thanks to @insomniac2 for starting it.

[kindred cats]

Linwood Barclay's Elevator Pitch!.... It was quite the thrill ride.  Even gave me a bit of vertigo at one point.

Very good IMO.  Takes place in NYC and for me was a fast read.

[Alter Ego]

I finished listening to I MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE by Daniel Aleman. A lot of millenial (gen z?) angst.  The basis of the story (waking up with a dead body - not a spoiler), how it was handled, and its eventual conclusion were just kind of stupid and unrealistic.  But, there was a deeper meaning of the story.  I appreciate reading different voices and people who are not like me, but not necessarily something I would recommend. 

A quick cozy mystery is next.